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Original poster

DD with additional needs trying to get a job , frustrated

55 replies

Adviceandguidanceneeded · 04/10/2018 21:01

So dd17 finished school last year , she has mild learning disabilities, ADHD and anxiety.

Education was not easy for her, she finished college in June, tried to apply for another course but was told she wasn't academic enough to do a level 2 course in a practical subject as she can't get maths or English.

So she's desperate for work, I have completed her cv and help her apply for all jobs, 99% don't get back to her, the 1% she gets an interview then they never get back to her. She can't even do an apprentiship as you now need maths and English for this.

Her confidence is at an all time low she has an EHC plan which doesn't appear to be helping either. Anyone got have any advice or know any good employers in south east that will consider people without maths and English?!

OP posts:
HippyChickMama · 04/10/2018 22:34

There's a charity called Autistica that work with people with Autism and other learning difficulties to help them find work. Their apprenticeships are mainly in the financial sector and IT but they may have some useful information that could help. If you google them you should be able to find their website. They do a lot of work with big companies on making interviews more suited to people with learning difficulties.

user1485816612 · 05/10/2018 00:09

If she is interested in animals, is there an agricultural college near you? Usually they have entry level one courses that don’t require maths or English GCSE’s and run essential skills courses in maths and English alongside them.

This would give her the opportunity to break into either animal care, agriculture or something related.

The courses normally have a work experience element and completing the lower level means she can progress all the way to a level 3 course which is equivalent to A Level providing she can get the required grades at each previous level.

Might be worth a look into, she could take each level and branch out / specialise depending on what takes her interest and what the college offers.

schoty77 · 05/10/2018 02:29

Does she have an work experience? Voluntary? Retail businesses can get hundreds of applications for a handful of roles, some experience and a good character reference would give her a competitive edge for future openings. I think she needs to forget about the cash component for a while and be realistic. My DD has a masters degree and volunteered for over a year to 'get her foot in the door' in the right career track, it's hard for everyone these days!

Pixiedust2017 · 05/10/2018 03:07

If she likes animals and is practical are there any working farms in the area? Farmers are often looking for extra farmhands. No maths or english needed there. Just the ability to get up really really early in the morning to milk the cows etc. They usually struggle to recruit due to the unsociable hours.

Original poster
Adviceandguidanceneeded · 05/10/2018 06:50

Thanks all, she has done a level 1 animal care but couldn't progress to level 2 sadly.

I think I will have to work on her in regards to work experience as I have been to no avail.

OP posts:
zzzzz · 05/10/2018 07:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

worknamechanged · 05/10/2018 07:12

Dog walking?

GetOffTheTableMabel · 05/10/2018 07:32

My sister, who has a similar sounding challenges, was referred by the JobCentre to Remploy, who are a job agency who work with people with disabilities. I believe you can also self-refer.
She was given a 2 week placement at M&S. it was unpaid but, at the end of it, she was given a job. I do not believe that she could have gained the job via a traditional interview. There just would have been a more conventional candidate that they could have gone with. The 2 weeks of unpaid work were like an extended interview really. She has been there 18 months now. She is 45. It’s her first job.
She had spent some years working one day a week in a charity shop as a volunteer. This did help to show that she could work a till and deal with customers.

LIZS · 05/10/2018 07:32

You don't need gcses to do the level 2, it can be taken alongside Maths and English or functional skills and there may be level 2 apprenticeships in some of the workplaces suggested above. Volunteering is probably the best way to get involved, especially if her interview technique is lacking. Is she capable of good attendance, following instructions, respecting boundaries, working as a team? Does she have a realistic expectation of her abilities and potential to earn?

WrongKindOfFace · 05/10/2018 07:33

Mencap? Locally they organise work placements for people with mild learning disabilities. And they can lead to paid employment. Or volunteer work to gain some experience? Try do-it.org for ideas.

She may be able to do a traineeship? They’re a bit like an introduction to an apprenticeship so at a lower level. www.gov.uk/find-traineeship

stressedbeyond123 · 05/10/2018 12:53

We had a similar problem with DSD - the Job Centre were amazing with her, they were made aware of her disabilities/limitations and worked with her on these.

has your DD tried Remploy - they specialise in helping people with disabilities, limitations etc getting work, and then supporting them when they are in work.

wafflyversatile · 05/10/2018 12:57

Aren't Remploy the people who this govt ever so kindly shut down?

snownsunshine · 05/10/2018 13:10

You don't have to answer on here but how are you off financially?

If you have the money to do it I would try to find her a 6 month volunteer placement which matches something she wants to do.

IE if you think she would like to work in pets at home ask if they will take her as a volunteer. If you think she would like to work in a clothes shop find her a "charity shop" job etc.

And offer to pay her a monthly "wage" on top of her food, board etc if she is treats it like a proper job eg on time, smart, polite, works hard, no sick days etc. Obviously not £20,000 a year but enough to give her more money like her friends have?

And then try helping her to apply again in 6 months time for the exact same job she is already doing as a volunteer once she has some confidence, a good reference etc. You might find that then the interview questions become "what did you do about this in your last job" rather than "how are you under pressure" which is much trickier to answer positively if you don't have a lot of self confidence.

Would that be feasible?

stressedbeyond123 · 05/10/2018 13:36

@waffly - i don't believe so. She was having regular meetings with them up until a month or so ago (i think!). she now has part-time work so doesn't need them anymore

wafflyversatile · 05/10/2018 14:36

Ah, just checked, it was that they closed many/all of their factories.

porkinmyteeth · 05/10/2018 14:44

Has she tried the local supermarkets? I work in one of the big name ones and at our branch we have 6 members of staff who have some learning difficulties or additional needs. The good thing about it is that they are always surrounded by other staff who can instantly help should they find themselves struggling with something. There is such a wide variety of jobs too that there is always an opportunity. Good luck to your DD x

Greyhound22 · 05/10/2018 14:51

Have you got a Building Better Opportunities Project near you? If you want to PM me your area I can look into it for you. It's an employment programme aimed at getting people with barriers into work. I run one strand of it but it is running all over the country.

TheHobbitMum · 05/10/2018 14:54

If you have a local Aldi near you try if they are looking for staff, our store has staff with additional needs and we just adapt to their needs and its not an issue. Good luck to her Smile

mummyinbonniescotland · 05/10/2018 17:38

have name changed for this in case I'm outed

I work in the apprenticeship field and it is completely untrue that you need maths and english for all of them. Here in Scotland, there are initiatives to support diversity in apprenticeships and the majority of apprenticeships do not actually ask for entry requirements as there are different levels of apprenticeships available, with different entry requirements. As long as she is able to complete the actual qualification within the apprenticeship. I am aware of similar initiatives in England and Wales to support diversity in apprenticeships so do not make assumptions.

Have a chat with a careers adviser who can signpost you to accessible apprenticeships and/or alternative training programmes. The princes trust do programmes called 'get into...hospitality / retail / cars etc' so try them too. And also Remploy.

mummyinbonniescotland · 05/10/2018 17:42

oh and don't limit yourself to the local apprenticeship providers because there are national learning providers who work with employers both locally and nationally.

Why not also look at the employers who are registered as being disability confident?

Stuffofawesome · 05/10/2018 17:46

would the Shaw trust be any use to her?

LusaCole · 05/10/2018 17:47

OP are you within reach of London?

tfl.gov.uk/corporate/careers/steps-into-work

LIZS · 05/10/2018 17:49

Does this organisation www.richmondfellowship.org.uk/ operate in your area or are there any county council funded mh support groups?

Original poster
Adviceandguidanceneeded · 05/10/2018 17:55

Sorry been busy busy today , thanks for all the advice I have put a referral in to remploy !

I wish I was ok for money but sadly not so can't pay her , I wish I could afford driving lessons as might open more doors but these things will have too wait.

OP posts:
MayhemandMadness01 · 05/10/2018 17:57

Try SUPPORTED INTERNSHIP - you need an ehcp, upto 3 days with employer, 2 days in college, whilst with employer, the young person has a job coach with them who, over the course of a year, slowly steps back so that the person gains confidence and mostly importantly, the employer has a year to build a relationship and learns how to support the person. Ehcp caseworker or local college should be able to direct you to it. Part funded through Access to Work fund via govmt.